Cushion spring structure



2 Sheets-Sheet l r INVENToR. www {7d/ /f/a/wy W. A. CLARK CUSHION SPRING STRUCTURE May 12, 1953 Flled May 51 1951 May 12, 1953 w. A. CLARK CUSHION SPRING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3l, 1951 Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE` CUSHION SPRING STRUCTURE William A. Clark, Detroit, Mich. Application May 31, 1951, Serial No. 229,165

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cushion spring structure.

j The main-objects of this invention are: '#First, to provide a cushion spring structure which is well adapted for use in a front seat cushion lproviding an effective springable upholstery support and at the same time providing foot room or a space under the rear portion of the cushion.

Second, to provide a structure embodying these advantages in which the upholstery is effectively supported throughout.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which may be very economically produced.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention ispointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a cushion structure embodying my invention, certain parts being conventionally shown and only such parts being illustrated as are deemed necessary to disclose a practical embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view partially in section from front to rear of the cushion. y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of certain of the parts. Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryV perspective view illustrating certain of the details of the upholstery supporting strip.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the modified :form or embodiment of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated only such parts of a commercial spring structure as seems to be desirable in disclosing my invention and enabling the practical embodiment thereof. Certain of the parts are conventionally shown and certain parts are shown as having a flock surface coating, this being that disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 212,412, filed February 23, 1951. This 'coating is illustrated as it is a desirable feature in the embodiment illustrated, not only as to the spring structure generally but as to the upholstery supporting strip disposed at the rear of the body springs as will be described in detail.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a base designated generally by the numeral I and including a spring member or members on which thelielically coiled body springs 2" The top coils of the coiled body springs 2 are connected by cross helical tie members 6. The upholstery designated generally by thenumeral 'l is supported by the springs and the helical tie members. The helical tie members provide yielding springable connections for the adjacent body springs. This type of spring connection' is old in the art but it isespecially desirable in con'- nection with the other features to be pointed out.

To provide a foot space beneath the rear por'- tion of the upholstery, the rear body springs 2 are substantially spaced forwardly relative tothe rear rail 5 which is in approximately the plane of the tops thereof. To support the upholstery at the rear of the rear-body springs, I provide an upholstery supporting strip designated generally by the numeral il. This, in theembodiment shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, comprises an extensibly springable helically coiledfront member 9 and a rear member IIJ which is relatively nonextensible and desirably formed cf a wire core strand I I having a covering I2 thereon of twisted paper. These front and rear members are connected by transversely spaced parallel metal strips I3, the ends lli of which are clamped around the front and rear members or clamp"- ingly embrace the same, thereby holding the members I3 in their spaced parallel relation. This upholstery supporting strip is positioned at the rear of the body'springs and constitutes an upholstery supporting `extension of thevbod'y springs. The upholstery supporting strip is connected by meansY of clips i5 which secure the member 9 to the top coils of the adjacentbody springs. It is connected by means oi' the heli'- cally coiled extension springs It to the rear rail 5, the springs iB being' provided with hooks fil engaging the rear member I2 and withhocksv I8 engaging holes IS provided therefor in the rear rail 5. The front member yieldseXtensibl-y when pressure is applied to the body springsto which it is connected andthis compression yielding' is also furthered by the springable connectionsl 4Hated generally by the numeral 2,5.

for the upholstery supporting strip to the rear rail, The result is that the upholstery is eiiectively supported and at the same time foot space is provided beneath the rear portion o the cushion. This is particularly desirable in some automobile structures in which the front and rear seats are quite closely spaced in order to permit the positioning of the rear seat forwardly relative to the rear axle.

The 'upholstery cover designated .by the numeral 26 is ydrawn around the rear rail and secured to the upholstery securing rod 2i disposed below the rear rail and connected thereto bythe hangers 22, the upholstery securing means being indicated at 23. After the spring assembly, including the upholstery supporting strip, thas l.been completed, it is dipped in an adhesive and vflock, indicated at 24, applied thereto vwith the result that all of the parts are given a 'soft matlce covering. The adhesive, as pointed out in my uaforesaid pending applica-tion, .enters .the yjoints v'of the parts and prevents noise such :as commonly resul-ts from the movement `of one part of ia spring assembly on .another or .any noise such as-.fresults -f'rom the coils of thespri-ngs coming into contact. IThis is particularly desirable where the cushion is open at the rear .as there is nothing to eiiectiyely prevent the escape Aof `sound although in some embodiments a curtain is `disposed at the rear `or" the body springs.

vIn the embodiment 4of ymy inyention vshown in Fig. 5, the upholstery supporting strip is desig- The front .iongitudinal member 2,6 is the :same as the rear longitudinal member 27! which is llike the member il!! olf Figs. 1 to 4. The transverse strips Vt3 are the same .as in the previously described embodiment. in this Aembodiment the upholstery supporting strip is connected to the body `springs l2 by means'ofthe -helicaltie wire 2B which is spiralled around the member `26 with certain of its coils engaging the `top `coils of the adjacent body springs. The members" 26 and y2T Vof the upholstery supporting strip :of this embodiment are nonextensible but they are nexible .and yield or bend with the deecting of the body springs. The upholstery supporting strip is connected to the :rear .fr-ail 29 which in this embodiment is in the form of :a rod by means 4of the extension The structure lof Fig. 5 is somewhat more economiceil than that of the other embodiment in that the :front member 2t is lformed 'of the paper covered wire :strand as distinguished from vthe helically coiled :front member 9; however, 'there are'substantialadvantages .in the great iieXibili-ty and extensibility of the helically coiled member 9. The helical -t-ie 28 may be engaged with the parts connected thereby by mechanical rotation thereof while the clips i5 are individually yand manually applied.

.-I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical 'embodimentthereo 'I have not attempted vto illustrate certain vother embodiments .-o'r adaptations fas it 'is believed that 'this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art'to embody or adapt my invention yas may be desired.

.Having thus described -my invention, what I claim as new and desire -to secure by Letters Patent is:

`1. In a yspring structure, the combination of a base, upright helicallycoiled body springs carried by said base, resilient ties for the top lcoils of said springs, a rear rail carried by said .base :and disposed in rearwardly spaced relation to the body springs, an upholstery supporting strip disposed between the body springs and rail and comprising a helically coiled springably extensible front member, a nonextensible rear member, spaced connecting members clampingly engaging said iront and rear members, clips securing the front member to the top coils of adjacent body springs, and spaced helically coiled extension spring connecting the rear member to said rear rail.

2. In a .spring structure, the combination of a base, body springs carried thereby, a rear rail carried by said base and disposed in rearwardly 'spaced relation to the body springs, an upholstery supporting strip disposed between the body springs and rail and comprising a helically coiled spr-ingably extensible front member, a rear member, spaced members connecting said front and 'rear members, the front members 'being secured to the .adiacent body springs, land spaced helicale ly coiled extension springs connecting the rear member vtosaid rear rail. v

3. In a spring structure, ythe combination .of a base, body .springs carried thereby, `a, .rear rail carried [by said base and disposed in rearwardly spaced lrelation to the body springs, .an upholstery .supporting `strip disposed ybetween lthe body springs .and rail and comprising spaced Iiexible iront and rear members, spaced vmembers connecting said front and rear members, the .iront member being secured vto the adjacent .body springs, and springable kmeans connecting the rear member to said rear rail.

4;. A spring structure .comprising Va supporting frame and body springs carried thereby., said frame including a rear rail disposed in elevated rearwardly spaced relation 4to the body springs, und an upholstery supporting `strip disposed be tween the body springs and rail .and comprising a resilient front member and a relatively -nonresilient rnonextensible -rear member and-.connecting upholstery supporting means, Athe frontvmember being secured to the adjacent body springs and the rear member being .resiliently connected to the rear rail.

5. A spring structure comprising a supporting fra-me and body springs carried thereby, .said frame .including a rear rail .disposed in rearwardly spaced relation .to the body springs, an .upholstery supporting strip disposed between ythe body springs and rail and comprising a springably extensible front .member .and a relatively nonextensible rear member, and .spaced :parallel members connecting said front and .rear members, 'the front member being secured .to the :top coils of adjacent body springs and the rear .member being springably connected .to the vsaid rear rail.

6. .A spring structure comprising .a supporting frame and body springs carried thereby, .said frame including a rear rail disposed in vrearwardly spaced relation to the body springs, .an upholstery supporting strip `disposed .between the body 'springs and lrail and comprising Aa .springably vextensible front member and a relatively nonextensible rear member, and .upholstery supporting means carried by .said front and rear members, the front member beingsecuredto vthe top coils 'of adjacent body springs and the rear member being.springably connected to the said rear rail.

7. A spring structure comprising 1a supporting trarne and helically .coiled .body springs carried thereby, said frame including a rear rail vdisposed in rearwardly spaced :relation relative :to the top .coils .of the rbody springs, an Vupholstery supporting strip disposed between said body springs and rail and comprising nonextensible front and rear members, upholstery supporting means extending between said front and rear members, the front member being connected to the top coils of adjacent body springs, and spring means connecting the rear member to said rear rail.

8. A spring structure comprising a supporting frame and body springs carried thereby, said frame including a rear rail disposed in rearwardly spaced relation to the body springs, an upholstery supporting strip disposed between the body springs and rail and comprising front and rear members. spaced parallel connecting members disposed with their ends clampingly embracing said members, a helically coiled tie member spiralled upon the front member with coils thereof embracing coils of the adjacent body` springs, and extension springs connecting the rear member of said upholstery strip to said rear rail.

9. A spring structure comprising a supporting frame and body springs carried thereby, said frame including a rear rail disposed in rearf wardly spaced relation to the springs, an upholstery supporting strip disposed between said body springs and rail and comprising front and rear members. upholstery supporting means carried by said front member, a. helically coiled tie member disposed with coils thereof embracing said front member and with certain of the coils engaging the body springs, and springably yielding connections for the rear member to said rear rail.

10. A spring structure comprising a supporting frame and body springs carried thereby, said frame including a rear rail disposed in rearwardly spaced relation to the springs, an upholstery supporting strip disposed between said body springs and rail and comprising flexible front and rear members, upholstery supporting connections for said members, the front member being connected to adjacent body springs, and spring connections for the rear member to said rear rail.

WILLIAM A. CLARK.

No references cited. 

